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Bluecoat School (now Bluecoat Academy) was officially opened by J L Smeall, the Principal of St Luke’s College, Exeter, and blessed by the then Bishop of Plymouth, Wilfrid Guy Sanderson. The opening took place on 4th March 1969, although the school had been in use since January 1969.
The building was designed by architect, M H D Willis, from Lucas Roberts & Brown of Exeter. The builders were P C Chapple of Fairview, Barnstaple. The then chairman of the Managers was the Rev. James West, Vicar of Pilton.
The official programme for the opening, which can be downloaded here, identified that the new school brought together the Parish Church Junior Girls’ School (founded in 1659), the Bluecoat School (founded in 1710), and Pilton School (founded in 1815).
Many thanks to John Norman for this document. We understand that the first Headteacher of Pilton Bluecoat School on its new site was Bill Forward although he doesn't appear in the programme.